Yesterday evening at 08:08 p.m. DCFD2 firefighters responded to a report of an accident on the east bound of Highway 42 near its east intersection with Grange Road. The accident involved a male pedestrian that had apparently been struck by a semi while he was on the Highway median. Dispatched to this initial accident were an ambulance and a Chief Officer from DCFD2, and a fire engine from the Winston Dillard Fire District.
While approaching the scene of the initial accident, the Winston fire engine was rear ended by a two door sedan. The female occupant of the sedan became trapped between the wreckage due to the force of the impact. After requesting immediately that additional resources be dispatched to deal with this second accident, the Winston’s fire engine crew began providing emergency medical care to the occupant of the vehicle.
Meantime, upon its arrival at the scene at 08:14 p.m. the crew of the initial DCFD2 ambulance began providing care to the male that had been struck by the semi, who came to rest of the east, bound shoulder of Highway 42.
Additional resources consisting of two ambulances, and a fire engine with extrication equipment from DCFD2 were dispatched to the scene at 08:14 p.m. These crews worked feverishly with the “jaws of life” to free up the occupant of the sedan. They also examined the two man crew of Winston engine for injuries.
Both the victims of these accidents sustained serious injuries, and were transported to Mercy Medical Center. The crew from the Winston engine was also transported to Mercy medical center for further observation.
Oregon State Police, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Winston Police assisted at the scene with traffic control, and are presently investigating both accidents.
DCFD2 firefighters would like to remind motorists to always pay extreme attention when driving in the proximity of emergency vehicles operating at or approaching the scene of an incident.